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[Foreign Jackass]

Give me advise, according to my tastes, which could be shitty to you, but I don't care.

I need an Adventure/RPG or RPG from any ERA, on any of these (NES, SNES, GBA, GBC, GB, PSX, PS2, GC, DC). PC games could do, too.

I like this kind of game : FF, FF4, FF6, Skies of Arcadia, Suikoden, Dragon Warrior 3, Zelda, Alundra, Chrono Trigger.

And this kind of game : Deus Ex, System Shock 2.

But not this kind of game : Suikoden 3, FF8, Dark Cloud 2, Chrono Cross, Xenogears.

So, well, for consoles, I like good dungeons (not random), I'm not really difficult about fighting systems, and I like good stories, but nothing too self-important or fucked up for nothing. I like good characters, and I like exploration.

For PC, well, I don't think there's an equivalent to what I like that I haven't heard of, but still, if you think there is, mention it.

 

[bionic77]

Play Fire Emblem on GBA.

Best fucking rpg in forever. Hell, best game of this generation so far (either this or Winning Eleven, I can't choose).

 

[Unison]

How about the first Grandia?

It's a shame you didn't list Genesis... Phantasy Star IV sprung to mind too...

 

[Wario64]

Time Stalkers

 

[GitarooMan]

Definitely Grandia

 

[Error]

I would approach this one with caution since is a love it or hate it game I think, I for once absolutely love it favorite RPG this gen by far.

 

[dark10x]

A great answer that is bound to come up is Dragon Quarter (BoFV).

Ys - Oath in Felghana totally rocks, but if you don't feel like spending much, Ys VI is also very good.

 

[Ironclad]

Definitely SMT III or DDS. Both of them are brilliant. Grandia is excellent as well. Just replayed through that one last week.

You also may want to try Shadow Hearts if you haven't. You can pick up the first one for around $20 and it's a great game. You could just jump straight to the sequel and it wouldn't be too much of a problem if you don't want to play the first game.

 

[Pellham]

dragon warrior 7

 

[bionic77]

How about the first Grandia?

It's a shame you didn't list Genesis... Phantasy Star IV sprung to mind too...

Phantasy Star 4 yes!

Grandia, no so much. That game really fell apart for me in the second disc. I though the first disc was absolutely brilliant, but I hated the characters they added in the second disc. It seemed to lose all of its charm.

 

[Unison]

Sorry to bring up another Genesis game, but you really need to check out Landstalker if you liked Alundra.

 

[Duck of Death]

I don't know how extensive your PC RPG knowledge is, but for the conditions you listed you can't go wrong with Fallout 1 or 2, Icewind Dale (very well-designed and balanced dungeon crawl with a decent story), Planescape: Torment (brilliant story, but mechanically lacking), or Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (great story, great dungeons, great everything).

 

[Unison]

Grandia, no so much. That game really fell apart for me in the second disc. I though the first disc was absolutely brilliant, but I hated the characters they added in the second disc. It seemed to lose all of its charm.

It held up for me throughout... It's probably my favorite PS1 RPG overall... It's also fucking long, which helps a lot, and the Grandia battle system might be the best ever.

 

[Unison]

I don't know how extensive your PC RPG knowledge is, but for the conditions you listed you can't go wrong with Fallout 1 or 2, Icewind Dale (very well-designed and balanced dungeon crawl with a decent story), Planescape: Torment (brilliant story, but mechanically lacking), or Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (great story, great dungeons, great everything).

I agree that every single one of these games is great.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

I don't know how extensive your PC RPG knowledge is, but for the conditions you listed you can't go wrong with Fallout 1 or 2, Icewind Dale (very well-designed and balanced dungeon crawl with a decent story), Planescape: Torment (brilliant story, but mechanically lacking), or Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn (great story, great dungeons, great everything).

Yeah, played all of those except Fallout 1. Couldn't really get into Fallout 2, Icewind Dale is sitting on my shelf (I might try it again), Planescape was great, and I'm about 5 hours to the end of BG2, but burned out.

Sorry to bring up another Genesis game, but you really need to check out Landstalker if you liked Alundra.

I remember trying it on an emulator and it fucked up all the time. I might want to try it again. Isn't it a little like that SNES game... can't remember the name though.


Shin Megami Tensei looks kinda cool, but I wonder if it's really my type of game. In fact, I wonder if anyone except Unison and some other has read my tastes.. (?)

 

[Dragona Akehi]

 

[bionic77]

It held up for me throughout... It's probably my favorite PS1 RPG overall... It's also fucking long, which helps a lot, and the Grandia battle system might be the best ever.

I agree on the battle system. I wish more rpgs would increase the speed of their battle systems and try to emulate games like Granida and CT in at least that aspect.

Grandia to me became ordinary in the second disc. I am probably being too critical, but I was hoping the entire game would play out like the first disc. It really felt more like an actual adventure for the first disc than any other game I have played. It seemed to become a regular rpg pretty quickly after you get to the wall though. Just my opinion of course, but I can be a pretty irrational bastard when it comes to video games.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

I just don't want anyone getting me to buy another Xenogears or Dark Cloud 2.

Phantasy Star 4 is good? I remember trying it for a couple of minutes, but I don't remember much else. I'm listing Genesis now, even if I don't own one,...

 

[djtiesto]

I'm currently really enjoying Atelier Iris:Eternal Mana. A nice throwback to simpler times, with really great sprite work. You might also want to try the Tales series... Also, Dragon Warrior IV on NES is amazing if you liked III

 

[GitarooMan]

I agree on the battle system. I wish more rpgs would increase the speed of their battle systems and try to emulate games like Granida and CT in at least that aspect.

Grandia to me became ordinary in the second disc. I am probably being too critical, but I was hoping the entire game would play out like the first disc. It really felt more like an actual adventure for the first disc than any other game I have played. It seemed to become a regular rpg pretty quickly after you get to the wall though. Just my opinion of course, but I can be a pretty irrational bastard when it comes to video games.

I am a huge fan of Grandia and like the whole game but I hear what you're saying. I remember that first disc feeling really epic. There was a lot of mystery and you really felt like you were on the path to something exciting, i.e. "the wall". I still like the second disc, though, I think the character development and story of Grandia are great.

Other suggestions: Lunar series, Valkyrie Profile(if you can find it)

 

[Madrin]

Phantasy Star IV is one of my favorite RPGs. Earthbound for the SNES is also very good, if you don't mind a quirky RPG.

 

[CoolTrick]

I highly highly recommend Tales of Symphonia for the Gamecube. This game breathed new life into my love for RPGs. One of the most fun battle systems in a game ever, you will love fighting even the random encounters because the game has such a fun, varied, yet intimate (nevermind gorgeous looking) battle system and effects.

The characters are deeply developed, and if you don't mind some obvious cliches, the story was good too: Long, involving, lots of twist and turns, and nothing is as it seems.

The game is long, and has a ton of sidequests. I found the voice acting to be excellent, and I didn't want the game to end.

I highly recommend it. Give it a try. If you like the sense of fun, adventure, darkness but with still an overall light feeling (like Skies of Arcadia), I cannot recommend any RPG more than this one. The graphics, sound, everything about this game is top-notch.

 

[Unison]

I remember trying it on an emulator and it fucked up all the time. I might want to try it again. Isn't it a little like that SNES game... can't remember the name though.

Landstalker's probably one of those games you don't want to play on an emulator. It requires some incredibly precise timing in some of its later puzzles, so a good controller would be a must. I'm curious, now that you mention it, if anyone's managed to be the game on an emulator...

The only SNES Action-RPGs still worth playing that I can think of are Soul Blazer & Illusion of Gaia (and Terranigma, apparently, though I haven't played it). I wouldn't say that either of them is really like Landstalker... there was a game called Ladystalker for Super Famicom, but I think it was JP only.

There's always Earthbound too.

Shin Megami Tensei looks kinda cool, but I wonder if it's really my type of game.

SMT reminds me of Pokemon more than any other RPG, to be honest, so use that as a gauge. Its setting is much darker, but the gameplay has that collection aspect that's pretty addictive. It's a relatively fast-paced game, though the story's a bit obscure at first and convoluted later on.

 

[Unison]

I am a huge fan of Grandia and like the whole game but I hear what you're saying. I remember that first disc feeling really epic. There was a lot of mystery and you really felt like you were on the path to something exciting, i.e. "the wall". I still like the second disc, though, I think the character development and story of Grandia are great.

I have to agree too, I suppose... the first disc is definitely more filled with that great sense of adventure.

I don't think the game pulls a Xenogears or anything though... The second disc of Grandia is still better than most other RPGs.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

Landstalker's probably one of those games you don't want to play on an emulator. It requires some incredibly precise timing in some of its later puzzles, so a good controller would be a must. I'm curious, now that you mention it, if anyone's managed to be the game on an emulator...

The only SNES Action-RPGs still worth playing that I can think of are Soul Blazer & Illusion of Gaia (and Terranigma, apparently, though I haven't played it). I wouldn't say that either of them is really like Landstalker... there was a game called Ladystalker for Super Famicom, but I think it was JP only.

There's always Earthbound too.

Earthbound, I gotta check this out. I remember loving it back in the days. I'm currently playing Paper Mario 2. Enjoying it a little, but it has too much backtracking.

I'm very interested by Action-RPGs too. Tried Terranigma, but didn't really like it. Illusion and Soul Blazer are both great games. I'm thinking of trying Crystalis (NES) again, as I remember it being very fun 15 years or so ago...

Grandia looks interesting, I never played it.

 

[GitarooMan]

I'm thinking of trying Crystalis (NES) again, as I remember it being very fun 15 years or so ago...

I highly recommend Crystalis, it's one of my favorite NES games. Really blows away any other action-RPG's on the system. Just be prepared to spend a little time leveling up

 

[dark10x]

I'm very interested by Action-RPGs too.

Ys Ys Ys!!!!

 

[Baron_Calamity]

Wish they made RPGs for us old schoolers. Might & Magic, Bards Tale, Eye of the Beholder. First person, party based, and turn based combat. *sigh*

 

[Unison]

Might & Magic III-VI were so amazing. It's a shame 3do ran that series into the ground.


Those Ys screens are from a JP only PC version, right? It looks sweet.

 

[dark10x]

Might & Magic III-VI were so amazing. It's a shame 3do ran that series into the ground.


Those Ys screens are from a JP only PC version, right? It looks sweet.

Yeah, YsF is only available in Japan...but holy shit, it rocks.

Ys VI is also very good, though, and is available on the PS2 in the US.

 

[ToxicAdam]

I almost want to recommend Tales of Symphonia (Gamecube). Especially now that it is 20 dollars.


It has a standard traditional RPG story, gorgeous anime influenced graphics, with a "real time" combat system that isn't boring.

It's not going to blow you away (like FF6 or Chrono Trigger did). But its a completely solid RPG that will take you 60 hours to complete.

 

[Tsubaki]

Grandia is the best RPG ever.

But Growlanser & PDS are cool too.

 

[imastalker co.]

Tales, Baten Kaitos, or Paper Mario?

im leaning towards Baten Kaitos right now, but what would you guys recommend?

 

[Foreign Jackass]

Tales, Baten Kaitos, or Paper Mario?

im leaning towards Baten Kaitos right now, but what would you guys recommend?

I've only played Paper Mario. It's got its moments.

 

[dark10x]

Tales, Baten Kaitos, or Paper Mario?

im leaning towards Baten Kaitos right now, but what would you guys recommend?

I dunno about that...

BK is a VERY slow game and the English VA is the absolute pits. Great soundtrack, though.

Tales is actually a very enjoyable game, but it is extremely uneventful. You can play for 10 hours straight without anything significant happening.

 

[keeblerdrow]

 

[dark10x]

There it is, the third mention of Dragon Quarter. Recommended. Highly.

VERY low price + incredible quality = teh win

 

[BuckRobotron]

As with an earlier poster, I'd suggest Tales of Symphonia. Somewhat like a Skies of Arcadia in spirit, with lead character Lloyd Irving reminding somewhat of Vyse again in spirit if not exact background.

Crisp (although sometimes overly pastel and sugary cute) graphics, superb English voice-acting for a jrpg, charming characters, attack animations eventually build up into pretty impressive light-shows and built into a fun/fast-paced battle system, etc.

I'm at about 35 hours in and deliberately slowing myself down to make it last...just as I did with DC Skies of Arcadia several years back.

 

[Foreign Jackass]

As with an earlier poster, I'd suggest Tales of Symphonia. Somewhat like a Skies of Arcadia in spirit, with lead character Lloyd Irving reminding somewhat of Vyse again in spirit if not exact background.

Crisp (although sometimes overly pastel and sugary cute) graphics, superb English voice-acting for a jrpg, charming characters, attack animations eventually build up into pretty impressive light-shows and built into a fun/fast-paced battle system, etc.

I'm at about 35 hours in and deliberately slowing myself down to make it last...just as I did with DC Skies of Arcadia several years back.

How are the dungeons and exploration?

 

[BuckRobotron]

The world opens up quite nicely and rewards exploration. In fact, you are actually encouraged to do so, such as to find stone monuments in the field that only after touched allow you to use a higher-angle roaming mode for a better view and faster movement. It is akin to the PS1 FFs with the open world exploration and getting more capable vehicles as you progress, not menu-driven like FFX.

Dungeons are all predesigned and of the runaround/puzzle type with hidden paths, etc. These aren't as much of a chore as they can be in some RPGs, given the visible non-random encounter enemies.

 

[SantaC]

I dunno about that...

BK is a VERY slow game and the English VA is the absolute pits. Great soundtrack, though.

Tales is actually a very enjoyable game, but it is extremely uneventful. You can play for 10 hours straight without anything significant happening.

I agree about the horrid VA(english) in Baten Kaitos, and the great soundtrack. But a slow game? I assume you meant the battle system, but for a turn based one it's very fast. Slow compared to ToS, yes, but not if you prefer RPGs with turn based battles.

 

[..pakbeka..]

Shin Megami Tensei: Digital Devil Saga

 

[Soul4ger]

Dark, who carries Y's: Oath of Felghana for import?

 

[dark10x]

Dark, who carries Y's: Oath of Felghana for import?

I went through Play-Asia...

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-7s-15-oath-70-r3n.html

If only it had seen release one week earlier, I could have just picked it up at retail. :\

 

[Crazymoogle]

Tales, Baten Kaitos, or Paper Mario?

im leaning towards Baten Kaitos right now, but what would you guys recommend?

I'd definitely recommend Paper Mario. It has a little slog towards the end, but I was so wrapped up in the whole pro wrestling story arc to actually give up. :lol

 

[Soul4ger]

I went through Play-Asia...

http://www.play-asia.com/paOS-13-71-7s-15-oath-70-r3n.html

If only it had seen release one week earlier, I could have just picked it up at retail. :\

Oooooh. Does that include the pre-order CDs and everything?

 

[scissorfight]

I must be the only person that absolutely hated the story in ToS. It became the first RPG ever that I completed but didn't finish watching the ending. It was just too stupid.

Everything else about the game was great though, particularly the battle system.

 

[Photon]

Dungeons and exploration?

 

[Johnas]

Ys VI is also very good, though, and is available on the PS2 in the US.

I finished Ys VI last night, that game was fantastic. It really made me miss simpler gaming times.

 

[whytemyke]

Shadow Hearts: Covenant, you whores!

Demi will back me up on this.